Hi All!

Here is your weekly round up of what I’m pondering and exploring. Feel free to forward along to a friend if you think they might enjoy.

Solo Travel

Staying in hostels is great. They’re cheap, they’re fun, and they’re a great way to meet people.

However, as much as I love meeting new people, and going out exploring with them, I treasure my own company.

I love going out alone, eating by myself, and wandering wherever I want at my own pace. It’s so easy. I know what I like, where I want to go, and best of all there’s no complaining, or compromise.

Also, something great about meeting people while you’re travelling is you’re not obliged to stay with them. You can just leave.

Take yesterday for example. I met two nice girls on the bus and they ended up joining me for lunch.

However, after seeing how meticulous they were keeping track of every last yuan they spent, and who owed who what, I knew I had to ditch them.

Not because I had anything against them either.

I actually enjoyed our chats, and their company.

However, it was just too much unnecessary friction to something simple as ordering a meal.

So, after we finished eating, I left, had a look around the town we just arrived at, realised it wasn’t exciting me how I imagined, and booked a train ticket to a completely new place.

And even though originally I planned to stay in that town for the next few days. I realised it wasn’t for me, and happily just changed my plans.

Because you can just do that.

New Stamp

When I was in Beijing I had someone carve me a custom stamp into a stone. I took inspiration from the traditional Chinese stamps that have been used for thousands of years, and really liked how it came out. It’s so fun stamping the books I read, or anything else I want to leave my mark on.

HALT

DO NOT MAKE BIG DECISIONS WHEN YOU ARE:

• Hungry/Horny
• Angry
• Lonely
• Tired

I can’t remember where I recently heard the above, and I apologise for not being able to give credit, but I thought it was a good reminder to not get caught up in the emotions in the heat of the moment, and instead choose to let them pass before doing anything drastic.

Negative Capability

I recently learnt about the term negative capability, coined by the poet John Keats

Take a read of the Wikipedia definition below:

Negative capability is the capacity of artists to pursue ideals of beauty, perfection and sublimity even when it leads them into intellectual confusion and uncertainty, as opposed to a preference for philosophical certainty over artistic beauty.

The reason why I share this is because of how important I think it is for anyone pursuing an artistic path, that we embrace the confusion and uncertainty of life.

Especially because in my opinion as an artist one of your roles is to make people feel, and experiance the undefineable parts of life.

In Transit

I enjoy travelling.

And when I say that, I don’t mean being in a new place, I mean literally travelling by car, bus, bike, or my all time favourite, train.

Take literally, right now as I’m typing this into my phone.

I’m riding in a taxi, my window is down, the breeze is blowing in my face, and I have my headphones in listening to music.

I’m looking up at the mountains in the distance, while the 808s are hitting in the background.

I’ve still got an hour until I get to the train station, where I’ll have an additional four hour commute.

How good.

Normally, I’d dread such a long journey, but now they make me excited.

I can read, edit, write, listen to music, or just rest.

Wait a minute.

Thats exactly what I’m doing during this transition into the next period of my life.

Interesting.

Guess I should make the most of this also.

Because before I know it, I’ll also be there.

Anyway, the sun has just come out.

Going to put my phone away now.

Hope everyone enjoys their week.

Love,

Jet Williams

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